Waterproof watchcase



Oct- 19, 1943- w. A. MUNEY ET AL WATERPROOF WATCHCASE Filad Dec. 2, 1942ATTORNEY INVENTORS z'llc'am 1Q. Mun? BY C/zarles W'apne Patented Oct.19, 1943 WATERPROOF WATCHCASE William A. Muney and Charles Wapner,Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 2, 1942, Serial No. 467,582

7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a waterproofwatch case.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of a watchcase having a removable cover and provided with a new and .novel meansfor waterproofiy holding the cover in position upon the watch case in amanner to protect the delicate watch mechanism within the case from theravages of water in th event the watch be accidentally submerged.

Still further it is proposed to characterize the watchcase by acylindrical body having a frustoconical end opening continuing'into areduced shoulder upon which a disc is adapted to be rested with aresilient compressible gasket between the adjacent faces of'the disc andshoulder to waterproof these contacting surfaces in a manner to preventthe entrance of water.

Another object of the invention proposes an annular rim which is adaptedto be rested on the end of the cylindrical body and which has a portionengaging the top face of the disc to prevent the disc from dropping outof the end opening of the cylindrical body.

A further object of the invention provides a wire ring arranged toextend along an external groove formed in the annular rim and engage theadjacent face of the'irusto-conical opening in the. cylindrical body ina manner to securely lock the annular rim in position upon thecylindrical body.

A still further object of th invention proposes to so arrange the partsof the watch case that pressure upon the outer face of the disc willcause it to and freeing the annular rim to be lifted off the back of thewatch case in a. manner to free the disc to be lifted out of the watchcase and open the back thereof.

It i another object of a modification of this invention to provide meansfor-holding the disc against being pressed inwardsin a manner to preventthe disc from being accidentally freed.

Itis still another object of this invention to constructawaterproofwatch case-which is simple and durable and which may bemanufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objectsand-advantages thereof, reference will be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims inwhich the various novel features of the invention are more particularlyset forth.

In the accompanying drawinguformin'g a ma- 55 terial part of thisdisclosure:

move inwards compressing the gasket Fig. 1 is a front elevation of awatch having a waterproof watch case constructed in accordance with thisinvention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view taken on the line3.-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating the position of theparts when the disc has been depressed to release the annular rim.

Fig. 5 is a perspectiv view of the lock wire per se.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a modification ofthe invention.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view taken on the linel-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is another view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating anothermodification of the invention.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view taken on the line99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line Ill-l9 of Fig.9.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but illustrating a differentposition of the parts.

The Waterproof watch case, according to this invention, includes acylindrical body [0 having one side closed by a watch crystal andenclosing a watch mechanism ll arranged to have its face viewablethrough the crystal. Spaced lugs l2 project from opposite sides of thebody I!) and have the ends of a wrist band l3 attached thereto. Althoughthe novel features of this invention have been shown applied to a wristWatch, this merely is by way of illustration, and the features of thisinvention could be applied equally as well to a pocket watch, clock,compass, barometer or any similar device having a cylindrical body.

The cylindrical body is formed with a frust0- conical end opening withits large end disposed inwards of the body and continuing into a reducedshoulder l5.

An annular rim I5 is rested on the open end of the body HI and has aportion l1 extended into the outer end of the frusto-conical opening (4.The rim I6 is formed with an external groove l8 which is circular incross-section and which has a bottom portion continuing into a ledge IS.The ledge I9 is extended parallel to the side wall of the frusto-conicalopening M.

A wire 20 is extended along the external groove 18. This wire is of adiameter equal to the distance between the ledge i9 and the face of theupwardly extending side wall of the frusto-conical opening l4. This wireis circular in shape (see Fig. 5) and is formed of resilient material sothat it normally tends to expand to bear against the face of theupwardly extended side wall of the frusto-conical opening M.

A metallic disc 2| is extended across the inner end of the rim I 6 andmore specifically across the inner end of the inwardly directed portionll of the annular rim [6. The disc 2| has the outer portions of its topface resting against the bottom portion of the wire 20.

A resilient compressible gasket 22 rests upon the reduced shoulder l andengages the edge portions of the bottom face of the disc 2|. This gasket22, which is preferably constructed of rubber or other similar material,seals the adjacent faces of the shoulder l5 and the disc 2| to preventwater from entering the body IE and also urges the disc 2| upwardsforcing the wire into the groove Hi to lock the annular rim againstbeing removed from the body In holding the case in its closed position.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

Normally the cylindrical body It is closed as shown in Fig. 3. To openthe back of the watch, pressure is applied to the outer face of the disc21 to urge the disc inwards or downwards to compress the resilientgasket 22 as shown in Fig. 4. The disc 2| then moves away from the innerend of the inwardly extending portion H of the annular rim IS. Theexpanding resilient character of the wire 20 will cause the wire to movedownwards with the disc 2 I along the inner face of the upwardlyextending wall of the frustoconical opening l4. Downward movement of thewire 20 is to continue until the horizontal'center of the wire passesthe bottom edge of the ledge IQ of the annular rim l6, as clearly shownin Fig. 4. In this position the rim l6 will be free to be lifted out ofthe opening l4 releasing the other parts to also be lifted out one afterthe other. To reclose the back of the cylindrical body 10 the parts arereturned to their normal position and the annular rim I6 is then snappedinto position to again lock the back closed.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7, theconstruction of the waterproof watch case is similar to that previouslydescribed except that the outer face of the disc 2| is formedwith anoutwardly extending projection 25 which has its face flush with theouter face of the annular rim l6 making it easier to press the discinwards when opening the watch case.

Like reference numerals identify like parts in each of the two previousforms of the invention.

In Figs. 8 to 11 means is provided for releasably retaining the disc 2!against being accidentally moved downwards or inwards preventing thewatch case from being accidentally opened. This latch is characterizedby a pair of down- Wardly extending pins which project fromdiametrically opposite sides of the disc 2|. These pins extend througharcuate slots formed in diametrically opposite sides of the gasket 22.The pins are of a length substantially equal to the thickness of thegasket 22 so as to bear against the top face of the shoulder l5 toprevent'the disc 2| from being moved downwards.

At one end of the arcuate slots 3| the cylindrical body In is formedwith downwardly extending openings 32 which project from the shoulderIS. The openings 32 are of a diameter slightly greater than the diameterof the'pins and when the free ends of the pins 3| are aligned with thetop ends of the openings 32, will enter the openings 32 permitting thedisc 2| to be depressed.

The outer corners of the outwardly projecting portion 25 of the disc 21is formed with cuts 33 arranged to assist the disc in being manuallyturned relative to the cylindrical body III to align and disalign thepins 30 and the openings 32.

In other respects this form of the invention is also similar to theprevious forms and like reference numerals identify like parts in allthe views.

It is to be understood that the watchcase and the ring 20 may becircular or of any other geometrical figures. The ring 20 may becircular or rectangular in cross section and may be changed when itbecomes worn.

The annular rim 16 may also be threaded to screw on the cylindrical bodyIt! either at the outside diameter or on the inside diameter of the sameto prevent the wire 20 from snapping out of position.

When it is desired to open the device. the threaded annular rim I6 isremoved and then the wire ring 20 as well as the disc 2| may be takenout of the cylindrical body.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of ourinvention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A waterproof watch case, comprising a cylindrical body having afrusto-conical end opening with its large end disposed inwards of saidbody and continuing into a reduced shoulder, an annular rim rested onthe end of said body and having a portion extending into the outer endof said frusto-conical opening and being formed with an external groovewhich is circular in crosssection and which has its bottom portioncontinuing into a ledge which is parallel to said I frusto-conicalopening, a Wire extending along said external groove and being of adiameter equal to the distance between said ledge and the face of saidfrusto-conical opening, a disc extending across the inner end of saidannular rim and engaging against the bottom portion of said wire, and aresilient compressible gasket resting on said shoulder and engaging theedge portion of said disc for holding said case in its closed position.

2. A waterproof watch case, comprising a cylindrical body having afrusto-conical end opening with its large end disposed inward of saidbody and continuing into a reduced shoulder, an annular rim rested onthe end of said body and having a portion extending into the outer endof said frusto-conical opening and being formed with an external groovewhich is circular in cross section and which has its bottom portioncontinuing into a ledge which is parallel to said frustoconical opening,a wire extendin along said external groove and being of a diameter equalto the distance between said ledge and the face of said frusto-conicalopening, a disc extending across the inner end'of said annular rim andengaging against the bottom portion of said wire, and a resilientcompressible gasket resting on said shoulder and engaging the edgeportion of said disc for holding said case in its closed position, andalso sealing the: adjacent faces of said shoulder and disc.

3. A waterproof watch case, comprising 9. cylindrical body having afrusto-conical end opening with its large end disposed inwards of saidbody and continuing into a reduced shoulder, an annular rim rested onthe end of said body and having a portion extending into the outer endof said frusto-conical opening and being formed with an external groovewhich is circular in cross-section and which has its bottom portioncontinuing into a ledge which is parallel to said frusto-conicalopening, a wire extending along said external groove and being of adiameter equal to the distance between said ledge and the face of saidfrusto-conical opening, a disc extending across the inner end of saidannular rim and engaging against the bottom portion of said wire, and aresilient compres ible gasket resting on said shoulder and engaging theedge portion of said disc for holding said case in its closed position,said wire being circular in form and of resilient stock tending toincrease in diameter to bear against the face of thewall of saidfrusto-conical opening.

4. A waterproof watch case, comprising a cylindrical body having afrusto-conical end opening with its large end disposed inwards of saidbody and continuing into a reduced shoulder, an annular rim rested onthe end of said body and having a portion extending into the outer endof said frusto-conical opening and being formed with an external groovewhich is circular in cross-section and which has its bottom portioncontinuing into a ledge which is parallel to said frustc-conicalopening, a wire extending along said external groove and being of adiameter equal to the distance between said ledge and the face of saidfrusto-conical opening, a, disc extending across the inner end of saidannular rim and engaging against the bottom portion of said wire, and aresilient compressible gasket resting on said shoulder and engaging theedge ortion of said disc for holding said case in its closed position,said gasket being formed of rubber or other similar material.

5. A waterproof watch case, comprising a cylindrical body having afrusto-conical end opening with its large end disposed inwards of saidbody and continuing into a reduced shoulder, an annular rim rested onthe end of said body and having a portion extending into the outer endof said frusto-conical opening and being formed with an external groovewhich is circular in crosssection and which has its bottom portioncontinuing into a ledge which i parallel to said frusto-conical opening,a wire extending along said external groove and b ing of a diameterequal to the distance between said ledge and the face of saidfrusto-conical opening, a disc extending across the inner end of saidannular rim and engaging against the bottom portion of said wire, and aresilient compressible gasket resting on said shoulder and engaging theedge portion of said disc for holding said case in its closed position,said disc being formed with an outwardly extending projection whichextends through said rim and has its face flush with the face of saidrun.

6. A waterproof watch case, comprising a cylindrical body having afrusto-conical end openin with its large end disposed inwards of saidbody and continuing into a reduced shoulder, an annular rim rested onthe end of said body and having a portion extending into th ter end ofsaid frusto-conical opening and v with an external groove whichcross-section and which has its a m portion continuing into a ledgewhich is parallel to said frusto-conical opening, a wire extending alongsaid external groove and being of a diameter equal to the distancebetween said ledge and the face of said frusto-conical opening, a discextending across the inner end of said annular rim and engaging againstthe bottom portion of said wire, and a resilient compressible gasketresting on said shoulder and engaging the edge portion of said disc forholding said case in its closed position, and latch means for releasablyrestraining said disc from being moved downwards.

7. A Waterproof watch case, comprising a oylindrical body having a,frusto-conical end opening with its large end disposed inwards of saidbody and continuing into a reduced shoulder, an annular rim rested 'onthe end of said body and having a portion extending into the outer endof said frusto-conical opening and being formed with an external groovewhich is circular in cross-section and which has its bottom portioncontinuing into a ledge which is parallel to said frusto-conicalopening, a Wire extending along said external groove and being of adiameter equal to the distance between said ledge and the face of saidfrusto-conical opening, a disc extending across the inner end of saidannular rim and engaging against the bottom portion of said wire, and aresilient compressible gasket resting on said shoulder and engaging theedge portion of said disc for holding said case in its closed position,latch means for releasably restraining said disc from being moveddownwards comprising pins extending from said disc and engaging the faceof said shoulder and in a turned position of said disc being alignablewith openings formed in said circular body and extended from saidshoulder.

WILLIAM A. MUNEY. CHARLES WAPNER.

